The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-15
SELECT STORY.
THE MAN AND THE Ak.

oue VI Jne InOSJ Justly estettntu ClJi
zens of Paris and ex-mayor of one o.
the towns of central France, found
himself in Baker street, London. Fifty
years of age, fat and jovial, carrying
his heart in his hand-but practical
enough in business affairs-this worthy
head of family and true social ex
ample did not escape more than others
from certain imaginary illusions, when
he was alone and visa Wis with the
inner man, that sometimes frequent the
brain of the sleddiest busiress man.
According to alienists these brains
outside OF business matters-belong TO
a mysterious world, whose creatures
are often fantastic. If, then, it hap
pened that NJ. Redoux, when in the
seclusion OF his office, let his mind 90
astray with some of those strange and
troubled fancies, of which he never
spoke word, the mania he allowed
himself to pet, be it larky or melan-
choly, very soon became despotic and
tenacious to the point of camoring for
realization. Master of himself, how
ever, he could dissipate the mania with
a profound sigh, when the least incl
dent of real life came with its shock
to awaken him from these morbid at
tacks, which had never proven very
serious. But for long time this cir
cumspect man had been on his guard
against this weakness, and had been
obliged to govern himself according to
the regulations of the strictest regime
to evade exciting EN- 'tions that might
put him astrde his hobby horse.
Above all, he drank very little On
this particular evening, M. Redoux,
having well dined-without his usual
prudence-at the house of merchant,
with whom, along with the dessert, he
had concluded mos, advantageous
affair, the object of bis journey to
London, did not perceive that the in
sidious fumes of port, sherry, ale and
champagne had altered trifle the sus-
ceptibility of his lucidity. He was re-
turning to his hotel at an early hour,
when he noticed that a heavy fog,
mixed with drizzling rain, was fall
ing.
He sought refuge under doorway,
which happened to be the entrance of
the famous Tussaud museum. To
avoid a cold, and to find comfortable
shelter, as well as to kill time while
satisfying curiosity, the ex-mayor of
one of the towns of central France
threw away his cigar and ascended
the stairs leading to the wax salons.
/ On the threshold of that long hall
where stood, in improbable immobility,
this strange gallery of personages, d.
versified in costumes and most of them
wearing crowns, all like ponderous
fashion plates of centuries past, M.
Redoux felt thrill pass through him.
An object caught his vision. Though
quite in the back it seemed to domin-
ate the entire hall from the platform
of the "chamber of horrors" 1t was
the old instrument which according to
sufficiently serious documents, had
been used in France for the execution
of King Louis XVI. At this sight,
and Informed by the programme of the
true origin of the apparatus, the ex
cellent citizen, always liberal in his
political opinions, and, thanks to the
profitable day just ended, felt himself
disposed with generosity toward the
king martyr. Setting aside all opin-
ions and ready to blame any excesses,
he felt his heart growing tender to-
ward the august victim, whose memory
this grave specimen of historical tools
had evoked. Honest and intelligent,
the temperament impressionable, where
the emotions magnified quickly, M.
Redoux scarcely honored with brief
look the crowd of wax figures resplen.
dant in gold, silk, purple and pearls
Moved by the stronger impression of
that guillotine and thinking of the
great drama past, he chose the neigh
borhood of the platform where stood
an approximate likeness of Shake
speare and sat himself to mediate.
Genial natures become expansive under
any kind of emotion. The ex-mayer
of the central town of France noticed
visitor sitting near him-French. no
doubt, if he was to judge by appear
ances-who, like himself, had fallen
into brown study. He turned to-
ward him, and to feel his ground let
drop a few remarks as to "the impress
sion almost sad that this sinister ma
chine caused, Independent of ones po-
litical beliefs"
But gazing more closely at his
neighbor, the excellent NJ Redoux
stopped short, rather vexed, for he had
discovered that for some two minutes
he had been addressing one of those
sham visitors that the administration
places on the benches destined for liv
ing ones At this moment a loud voice
warned the visitors that the hour for
closing had come, The chandeliers
were rapidly extinguished, and the last
of the curious, as though loatb to
leave, threw a summary look on the
fantastic surroundings as if wanting
to preserve souvenir of the general
| aspect.
M. Redonx's unrequted expansion
and the morbid excitement OF his first
impression : sufficiently unhealthy =
had transformed his feelings into a
mania of unaccustomed intensity. 1t
was more--it was dark hobby that
shook its bells until the sound had pen
etrated the inmost recesses of his
brain. The idea of resistance forsook
him.
''Ah," thought he, "to experience
without danger-these terrible sensa
tions, so terrible, that must have as
sailed the good King Louis XVI be-
fore this fatal p.ark To be in imag.
nation the king himself To hear the
rolling of the drums, aad to listen to
the last comforting words of the Abbe
Edgeworth de st. Firmont! And to
speak out ones treasures of moral gen
erosity! And to indulge in the luxury
of plying very sincerely, all political
opinions aparD this worthy father of
family; this man too good,too generous
indeed, too iull of all those qualities
that" M. Redoux recognized
as a part of his own nature. "What
glorious minutes to pass What sweet
tears to shed !" But to accomplish
this he must be alone before the guillo